British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has entrusted Finn Russell with the pivotal fly-half role for the opening Test against the Wallabies on Saturday in Brisbane. The Scottish playmaker, fresh from leading Bath to their first English Premiership title in 29 years last June, has been awarded the number 10 jersey amidst strong competition from three other fly-halves in the squad, including Saracens’ Owen Farrell, who arrived late.
Alongside Russell, Bath’s Will Stuart will provide front-row depth from the bench, contributing to the 10 Gallagher Premiership players selected for the Lions. Leadership will be provided by Saracens’ Maro Itoje, who will captain the side, while Bristol Bears’ Ellis Genge adds extra power in the front row. The back row sees fierce competition, with Sale Sharks’ Tom Curry securing the number seven jersey. Northampton Saints’ Tommy Freeman will start on the wing, showcasing the squad’s depth.
The replacements include Leicester Tigers’ Ollie Chessum and Saracens’ Ben Earl, with Northampton’s dynamic scrum-half Alex Mitchell and Harlequins’ Marcus Smith rounding out the English contingent. Marcus Smith’s inclusion notably excludes Owen Farrell from the matchday 23, despite his late arrival.
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Ahead of the match, Andy Farrell commented, “We’re entering the critical phase of the Tour and it’s time to deliver our strongest performance yet. The Wallabies are a well-organised and formidable side, and we expect a highly motivated opponent. It’s a proud occasion for Maro Itoje to captain the team, and for every player representing the Lions on Saturday night. The support from Lions fans in Brisbane has been incredible, and we’re excited to see the Sea of Red at Suncorp Stadium.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 11am UK time, with live coverage available on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and talkSPORT radio.
British and Irish Lions starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/Ireland), 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton/England), 13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), 12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), 11. James Lowe (Leinster/Ireland), 10. Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster/Ireland), 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), 2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland), 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (Captain), 5. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland), 6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland), 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), 8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), 17. Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland), 18. Will Stuart (Bath/England), 19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), 20. Ben Earl (Saracens/England), 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), 22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/England), 23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland)
Australia Wallabies starting XV:
15. Tom Wright, 14. Max Jorgensen, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Harry Potter, 10. Tom Lynagh, 9. Jake Gordon, 8. Harry Wilson (Captain), 7. Fraser McReight, 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5. Jeremy Williams, 4. Nick Frost, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Matt Faessler, 1. James Slipper
Wallabies Replacements:
16. Billy Pollard, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Tom Robertson, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Andrew Kellaway
Match Officials:
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Andrea Piardi (Italy), TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)